Night Vision How many use reticle illumination with clip-ons?

[dang472]

I’m starting to get interested in the 3.6-18 Leupold MK5 but feel the $500 for illumination is bordering idiotic. I was dead set on getting a NF ATACR 4-16 F1 for my PVS30 but the MK5 is pretty attractive. Just curious how much you guys use your illumination while hunting.

 

[wigwamitus]

With Night VIsion Clipons, I've used illumination about once in last 5 years ...

With thermal clipons, more useful. But if you don't have illumination you can invert. So illumination can save you a few inversions.

But it also depends on the reticle. WIth T3 reticles I have now, if I get another scope, I will not get it illuminated, but only every second major mil mark in the xmas tree is illuminated and I don't think that is worth the $$.

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NV Clipon, steel, 500yds

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Thermal clipon, steel 500yds

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I'm also looking at NF versus L&S for next scope ... and haven't decided yet. The prices on the MK5s are certainly attractive, but I suspect the image through the NFs is clearer. For me the tougher choice is T3 versus DTR reticle ... that will take some more noodling.


NF 5-25x T3 $3,400 (38oz)(15.4) Illum
NF 4-16x T3 $2,800 (30oz)(12.6) Illum

LS Mk5 5 -25x T3 $2,300 (30oz)(15.7) non-illum
LS Mk5 3-18x T3 $1,930 (26oz)(12.6) non-illum

LS Mk6 3-18x T3 $2,500 (24oz)(11.9) non-illum

LS Mk6 3-18x DTRv1 $2,900 (24oz)(11.9) non-illum (Ballistic Reticle for 7.62)

LS Mk8 3.5-25x DTRv2 $5,200 (33oz)(16) illum (upgrade turrets to M5c2 $250 (Ballistic Reticle for .300WM)

LS Mk8 3.5-25x T3 $3,400 (33)(16) non-illum


But this next scope ^^ is not really for hunting ... don't need all that for hunting.

 

[SkyScrapin]

I never use it with my PVS-30. I find that illumination works better for me when I'm shooting in low light when the sun is setting. This is my take utilizing various SnB optics from full size to ultra shorts.

 

[softcock]

only time I used it was on a FFP scope with a real fine-lined Ret. and subtension marks . Was using green uso illum. and the green color kicked ass . only color better (imho) was the blue illum. color .
Never use illumination with a 2nd FP scope . I prefer a lower power range hunting at night, with 'bold thicker Ret.' .
.

 

[dang472]

Thanks guys, I never bothered with illumination for the last few years but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t screwing myself. Now to determine if the MK5 is as good as the ATACR 4-16.

 

[wigwamitus]

When you find that out, let us all know !!!

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I have a Mk6 3-18x T3 ... but the eye box on the Mk5 is different. It is also different from the Mk4 eyebox ... so the Mk5 eyebox is new. Is it better than the NF eyebox? I doubt it, but not sure.
Or is it "good enough"? Is it better than the Mk4 or Mk6 eyebox? Don't know. More people have to get Mk5s that also have Mk6s and ATACRs ....

 

[shurt]

I use the Valdada scope and Armasight clip on night vision and never used the illumination on my Valdada.

 

[SLG]

I use the illum on my ATACR 4-16 from time to time with my PVS-22 in front of it. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it isn't needed. Just depends on the night. Essential? Maybe not, but I like the option.

 

[bachelorjack]

I use illumination with a PVS22. S&B Zenith.

But I'm also not trying to shoot past 200yds. I'm killing stuff.

 

[TheGerman]

Never use it in any setup.

PVS30 with a Mk6 3-18 or Mk4 6.5-20
PVS24 with a NF 2.5-10x24 or Mk4 3.5-10
Spotter 60 with PVS on the front or PVS14 on the ocular

Have never had a need for the illuminated reticle.

 

[Hogrider2000]

i have never NEEDED to use Illum reticle with NV, but I have tried it and it works fine. Keep it set at the lowest illum you can get by with. All my scopes have illuminated reticles and I feel it is money well spent if you ever need it on a tarhet that is capable of shooting back.

All my scopes are Leupold for a couple reasons. They have never failed me and the customer service has been exceptional. Not knocking others because I have never given them a test. The tremor reticle is good if you are ebgaging human targets but I find it way to busy for small to medium animals.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

With green tubes I've never used illumination, never needed it and the times I tried it I noticed nothing. I could see it possibly beneficial with a white phosphorus tube or with a thermal clip on when running black hot though. I've used my LWTS in front of my MK5 3.6-18 T3 and had no issues, white hot the reticle pops nicely, black hot I can still make it out just fine.

As to the Mark 5 vs ATACR F1... I've had both and prefer the Mark 5.

 

[RTH1800]

With today’s scopes and reticules I never use it. The SNB’s I use mostly are Ultra Shorts and I order them without illumination. They are an inch or more shorter without illumination. Lighter as well.

 

[TNVC_Augee]

At around 4x for multiple, moving targets, I personally like having some illumination. This could be a function of having had some of my first clip-on experiences in front of a TA31-series ACOG, where illumination is not so much an option but a simple hardware function, but even with other LPVOs, for faster moving engagements, I like the illuminated reticule for much the same reason as one would for a day sight, easier and faster for me to pick up, and especially when everything is monotone, the reticule is unmistakable.

For more deliberate engagements, I don’t necessarily see it as 100% necessary, but I still prefer to have the capability and the option to use it.

~Augee